Dr. Ramani: Narcissism 101 - How to Identify Toxic Traits and Set Boundaries

How can you spot a narcissist? It's quite a surprise to think that someone close to us might actually have those traits—or maybe, in some ways, we share them ourselves. Narcissism isn't always obvious; it can hide in plain sight, making it tough to tell who's who and leading us to question whether we see it in others or within ourselves. Today I welcome Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist known for her expertise in narcissism, personality disorders, and mental health. She's authored several books, including "Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist" and “It's Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People". In this episode of A Really Good Cry, Dr. Ramani dives into narcissism, breaking down what makes someone a narcissist and how it affects relationships and society. She talks about spotting narcissistic traits, whether they're innate or learned, and how tough it is to change these behaviors. I hope this episode provides you with practical insights and a deeper understanding of narcissism, enabling you to navigate relationships with clarity and confidence. What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 00:47 What is a narcissist? 02:43 The continuum of narcissism 07:08 Insecurity vs. Narcissism 08:00 Definition of empathy 14:50 How to identify a narcissist 17:32 Can you be born with narcissism? 22:45 Healing a narcissist 26:21 Narcissist living in the society 28:29 Changing a narcissistic personality 30:49 Spotting a narcissist in a relationship 33:28 Is a narcissistic person capable of love? 36:42 Two narcissists in a relationship 38:05 How does a narcissists express their emotion? 38:54 Staying with a narcissistic partner 44:31 Growing up with a narcissistic parents 46:57 Practicing self regulation 57:19 Narcissism in history and leadership 1:02:32 Setting boundaries in social situations 1:06:10 Navigating trauma and finding inner peace 1:11:04 Healing through therapy and motherhood Follow Dr. Ramani: https://doctor-ramani.com/ https://www.instagram.com/doctorramani/ https://www.facebook.com/doctorramani/ https://twitter.com/DoctorRamani https://doctor-ramani.com/dr-ramanis-books/ Follow Radhi: https://www.instagram.com/radhidevlukia/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxWe9A4kMf9V_AHOXkGhCzQ https://www.facebook.com/radhidevlukia1/ https://www.tiktok.com/@radhidevlukia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.